Illinois Democrats had a strong night up and down the ballot. Democrats are likely to pick up a net gain of four seats in the State House and lose one or two seats in the State Senate, with one race still too close to call. The upshot is that both chambers will maintain Democratic supermajorities. House Democrats are likely to increase their supermajority from 73 to 77 seats. Senate Democrats’ supermajority will likely decrease from 41 to 39 or 40 seats once all votes are counted. A three-fifths majority is 71 seats in the House and 36 in the Senate.
Democrats will also maintain control of the majority on the Illinois Supreme Court, with Judge Elizabeth “Liz” Rochford winning the open 2nd District. Judge Mary Kay O’Brien also holds a two-point lead over Republican Incumbent Justice Michael Burke in the 3rd Supreme Court District, likely giving Democrats a 5-3 majority.
Democrats held onto the governorship and the four other constitutional offices, winning by double digits in each race. Incumbent Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Comptroller Susana Mendoza, and Treasurer Michael Frerichs all won reelection. Democrat Alexi Giannoulias won the open race for secretary of state to replace longtime incumbent Jesse White. Comptroller Mendoza was the top vote getter in the state, currently leading her Republican opponent by 16 points.
In Illinois’ lone U.S. Senate race, incumbent Democrat Tammy Duckworth easily defeated her Republican opponent, Kathy Salvi. After the 2021 reapportionment, Illinois lost one Congressional seat, bringing the state’s total down to 17 seats. Democrats won all competitive Congressional races in Illinois, improving their split of the state delegation from 13-5 to 14-3. Incumbent Democrat U.S. Reps. Sean Casten, Lauren Underwood, and Bill Foster each won reelection in competitive suburban Chicago races. Democrats also picked up the open 13th Congressional District and held the open 17th Congressional District, with Nikki Budzinski and Eric Sorensen defeating their respective Republican opponents.
Finally, a ballot initiative that would enshrine the right for workers to organize and bargain over wages, hours, and working conditions into the Illinois Constitution appears likely to pass. Illinois will become the first state in the country to ratify these rights into their state constitution. The measure is currently sitting at 59% and requires either the support of 60% of those voting on the question or 50% of all voters in the election to pass. If Republicans were to take control of the General Assembly and governorship, this amendment would make passing right-to-work legislation much more challenging.
